Three people were charged Oct. 27 with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting of Cesar Sanchez-Gonzales at his South Omaha auto repair business on Oct. 22. Investigators say the murder resulted from a cocaine deal gone bad.
Prosecutors identified Robert Nave, 36, of Kansas City, as the alleged gunman. Along with Kim Thomas, 57, and Shawn McGuire, 41 — both with Kansas City ties — Nave arranged to purchase a kilogram of cocaine from Omaha resident Cesar Ayala-Martinez, 20, at Sanchez Auto Repair, 4333 S. 24th St.
Federal and local officers were staked out in the area awaiting a drug deal with an unnamed informant at the same shop, and responded to the scene after hearing gunfire. Nave, Thomas, McGuire and Ayala-Martinez were arrested a short time later after crashing their vehicle near 20th and I. Ayala-Martinez was charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.
Police are searching for a fifth man, Abdul Vann, 35, in connection with the case.
There have been 27 homicides in Omaha this year, compared to 25 at this time in 2009.

posted at 05:07 pm on Wednesday, November 03rd, 2010

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